Chung wrote:
Nousaine wrote:
(---MIKE---) wrote:
I'm not convinced that automatic room equalization is useful. I
purchased a Rane 1/3 octave equalizer and spectrum analyzer. When I try
to "equalize" the room using the analyzer, the results are awful - much
too bright. This could be because my speakers (DBX Soundfield One) are
not adaptable to this type of measurement but I had to just try to
eliminate a few peaks and balance the bass. The end result was good.
---MIKE---
Many people forget that equalization for far field response is not "flat" but
needs the downsloping shape (1-1.5 dB per octave in rooms; 3 dB in cars.) The
reason for this is not at all intuitive but you can verify the need for
yourself by equalizing a speaker for flat response in the near field (or
anechoic) and then re-measurig the speaker in the far field. You'll see that
the flat near field response has a downslope in the far field.
The HK-AVR635 actually takes near-field and far-field measurements of
the front-stage (LCR) speakers into account when computing the proper
manipulations to the signals.
In addition, it also automatically
calculates delays and cross-overs for all the channels, based on
measurements of time-domain responses. The process it uses is much, much
more complex than taking a microphone and try to flatten out the
response with a 1/3 band equalizer. It actually uses a set of parametric
equalizers for all the channels. The reviews so far are very positive,
especially in how the center-channel is much more clearer, and in how
the low-frequency response of the room is smoother.
Unfortunately, since the 6-channel input signals are not digitized,
those advantages are not available in the 6-channel direct mode, which
one would use for listening to SACD or DVD-A.
Having great respect for Floyd Toole, and having heard great things about
this latest implementation of room compensation elsewhere, I'd love to
try the HK -- the deal killer for me, right now, is that it
doesn't have ilink, which would bring SACD and DVD-A into the DSP fold.
I'm really hoping they'll amend that in the next product cycle.
--
-S
If you're a nut and knock on enough doors, eventually someone will open one,
look at you and say, Messiah, we have waited for your arrival.